Vanuatu Rescuers Race Against Time to Find Survivors After Devastating Earthquake

Rescuers in Vanuatu are intensifying efforts to locate survivors in the aftermath of a devastating 7.3-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of the main island on Tuesday. The quake has led to a rising death toll, which has now reached ten, as rescue teams expand their search to various collapse sites beyond the capital, Port Vila. The powerful earthquake caused significant destruction, toppling concrete buildings and triggering landslides. Reports indicate that critical infrastructure has been severely impacted, including water supply systems, mobile networks, and the main shipping port of the capital. Commercial flights have also been suspended, further complicating the delivery of aid and assistance to affected areas. According to government figures relayed by the United Nations' humanitarian affairs office, around 80,000 individuals have been directly affected by the disaster in the archipelago, which has a population of approximately 320,000. Among those affected are more than 14,000 children. The UN has confirmed the fatalities of ten individuals, including two Chinese nationals and one French citizen, as confirmed by their respective embassies. In a concerted response, Australia and New Zealand have sent over 100 personnel, along with specialized rescue equipment, dogs, and essential supplies, to assist in search operations and emergency repairs. Doug May, the leader of Australia's rescue team, reported discovering several significant collapse sites where buildings had completely pancaked, as well as numerous smaller collapses throughout the region. Rescue efforts are concentrated in two key disaster zones in Port Vila: a four-storey building that housed a supermarket, hotel, and garage, and a two-floor shopping block in the city center that has been reduced to a flat expanse of concrete. Jeff Mabbett, acting manager of Vanuatu's Emergency Services Association, noted that most of the lives lost were associated with the shopping block, where rescue teams were deployed shortly after the quake struck. Despite their relentless efforts, rescuers face considerable challenges, including limited access to heavy machinery, confined spaces, poor lighting, and ongoing aftershocks. Four days after the earthquake, teams continue to dig through the rubble and landslides in search of survivors. In addition to the rescue operations, medical support is being provided to those affected. A field hospital has been set up for survivors, and more than 100 patients have been treated for various ailments in the days following the earthquake. Medical personnel, including paramedics and nurses from Australia and New Zealand who were vacationing in Vanuatu, have volunteered their expertise to aid in the relief efforts. The earthquake also caused significant damage to a building housing the diplomatic missions of the US, France, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, with the ground floor of the four-storey structure collapsing, but fortunately, no casualties were reported among diplomatic staff. In response to the crisis, the Vanuatu government has declared a seven-day state of emergency and imposed a night-time curfew. Philippe Guyant, a World Health Organization medical officer, expressed concern over approximately 900 people displaced from their homes who have been sleeping outdoors without proper access to water and sanitation facilities. Unlike previous natural disasters, there are currently no evacuation centers established, leaving many individuals anxious about returning to their damaged homes. As the situation continues to unfold, rescue teams remain hopeful for more survivors while grappling with the pressing needs of those affected by this catastrophic event.